Match Details
Brechin City v Annan Athletic
Match Report
Annan Athletic got their league campaign up and running with a narrow victory over recently relegated Brechin City on Saturday. The only goal of the match coming courtesy of a powerful Steven Swinglehurst header from a Scott McLean corner in the 66th minute. It proved to be the defining moment in this the first ever league match played between the two clubs in this Annan’s eleventh season in the SPFL .
Annan started brightly and a 6th minute shot from Lewis McLear failed to hit the target a minute later Annan were dealt a blow when Kyle Bradley suffered an injury and had to be replaced by Ayrton Sonkur. The game flowed from end to end without any clear scoring opportunities until the 39th minute when on loan St Johnstone keeper Ross Sinclair pulled off a superb double save to initially save Lewis McLear’s effort with the ball breaking to the feet of Tommy Muir who was denied once again by the keeper. As the match approached half time Annan were forced to make their second substitution of the match when Niyah Joseph sustained a nasty injury to his ankle to be replaced by Christian Nade.
Annan were first to try and break the deadlock at the start of the second half when Christian Nade tried a speculative right footed 35 yard effort in the 51st minute when he collected a poor kick out from the keeper but much to the relief of the home support Nade’s effort failed to hit the target. Minutes later Scott McLean’s net bound shot was well blocked .
Brechin responded minutes later when Annan got caught from a quick free kick after Paul McManus quick thinking played in Sean McIntosh but Sonkur was at hand to block the effort . Tommy Muir had an opportunity to break the deadlock in the 62nd minute but his effort was well saved by keeper Sinclair.
Annan won a corner in the 64th minute and Scott McLeans back post corner found the head of Swinglehurst powering in at the back post and the header was well directed into the top left hand corner of the net. Nade then almost doubled Annan’s lead when he picked up a poor kick out but the keeper made amends saving Nade’s effort.
At the other end Aaran Taylor pulled out a good save to deny Ross Crawford as the home side went out to pull back Annan’s slender lead, minutes later the same player headed narrowly past the post as Brechin pressed for the equaliser.
Brechin introduced Keiran Inglis in the 75th minute in an effort to find a way past the resolute Annan defence and it almost paid off in the 82nd minute when they nearly made the breakthrough when Olly Hamilton broke from the half way line to home in on goal but Aaron Taylor made it difficult for Hamilton whose well directed shot cannoned off the upright and away to safety. It was a fortunate break for Annan and it turned out that Swinglehurst’s goal was all that separated the teams.
BRECHIN CITY – Ross Sinclair, Lee Duncanson, Christopher McLauchlin, Sean McIntosh, Dougie Hill, Scott Reekie, Olly Hamilton, Ryan McCord, Paul McManus, Ross Crawford (Keiran Inglis 75 min), Matthew Knox (Emile N’Goy 83 min). Subs not used Luke Watt, Lewis McMinn GK.
ANNAN ATHLETIC – Aaran Taylor, Matty Douglas, Jamie Ballantyne, Kyle Bradley (Ayrton Sonkur 9 min), Euan Griffiths (Jordan Holt 70 min), Steven Swinglehurst, Scott McLean, Tommy Muir, Kyle Wilkie, Lewis McLear, Niyah Joseph (Christain Nade 43 min). Subs not used Lyle Avci, Russell Currie, Harry Emerson, Darren Barr.
Referee Scott Lambie. Assistants – Gordon Crawford and Elliot Husband Poyton
Crowd 338
In the other SPFL matches played Queens Park got the result of the day with a 1-0 victory over the fancied Stirling Albion at Forthbank. Albion Rovers also secured a 3-2 victory at Stenhousemuir and Elgin City’s impressive start to the season continued with a 3-0 home victory over Cowdenbeath . Edinburgh City suffered the biggest defeat of the day against Cove Rangers going down 5-0 with City having a couple of players sent off.
Next Saturday Annan kick off their home fixtures with a match against the in form Elgin City kick off 3-00pm.